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Türkiye's Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus said Türkiye is presented with a “historic opportunity” in the fight against terrorism, following his meeting with Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahceli on Wednesday.
Kurtulmus visited Bahceli at the MHP parliamentary group offices in Ankara. After their roughly 30-minute meeting, he spoke to reporters, emphasizing Bahceli’s historic role in initiating and supporting the “Terror-Free Türkiye” process.
Discussing the future of the process, Kurtulmus noted, “A new phase has begun with Ocalan’s statement, followed by the terrorist group’s announcement that it would comply and lay down arms. To ensure this process reaches a meaningful conclusion, the Turkish Parliament must now play an active role.”
He proposed the formation of a parliamentary commission that would include representatives from all political parties to oversee, guide, and monitor the initiative: “This must be carried out transparently, clearly, and with proper planning in full view of the public.”
Kurtulmus described the process as a national responsibility that transcends party lines: “This is not a political bargain or a process one party can carry alone. It’s about voluntarily establishing unity, solidarity, and brotherhood. I hope everyone will shoulder their responsibility and that this initiative will progress under the leadership and oversight of Parliament.”
He stressed the importance of ending decades of violence that have caused both human suffering and economic loss: “For nearly half of our republic’s 100-year history, terrorism has plagued our nation, claiming thousands of lives and causing nearly $2 trillion in economic damage. Now, we have a chance to leave this issue in the past. Parliament must lead the way. I call on all political parties to join this historic effort.”
He also expressed appreciation for Bahceli’s support: “Once again, I would like to express our respect and gratitude to Mr. Bahceli for opening the door to this process.”
When asked about plans for a parliamentary commission, Kurtulmus confirmed that preliminary discussions had taken place: “We’ve evaluated how Parliament might function in this process. We’ll finalize the details and share them with the public soon.”
In response to whether the commission would be formed before Parliament’s summer recess, he said, “As soon as possible.”
On Tuesday, Bahceli also met with a delegation from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, welcoming them personally at the entrance of the party offices.
The gesture drew praise from DEM members and was interpreted as a sign of potential bipartisan cooperation in support of the new peace initiative.
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